Tesco have already hinted that it will mean more expensive meat. They will not have their margins eroded - its either the farmer who takes less income or the customer who pays more I'm afraid.

The NFU as an insurance company were brilliant at the time of the Cockermouth floods in 2009. Many shopkeepers were with the NFU, so they got people in and blitzed it, and got claims sorted without fuss at a very traumatic time.

BTW the supply chain of a tractor is far different to that of a pork chop!

Although New Holland is Fiat-owned, New Holland’s Basildon plant, which produces the 112 to 228 hp award-winning T6 and T7 tractor ranges, has been honoured no fewer than three times at one of Britain’s most prestigious manufacturing awards. Not only did it take the World Class Manufacturing Award and the Manufacturing in Action Award, but it was also runner up for the most prestigious prize of the evening: the British Manufacturer of the Year Award.

Tesco have already hinted that it will mean more expensive meat. They will not have their margins eroded - its either the farmer who takes less income or the customer who pays more I'm afraid.

The NFU as an insurance company were brilliant at the time of the Cockermouth floods in 2009. Many shopkeepers were with the NFU, so they got people in and blitzed it, and got claims sorted without fuss at a very traumatic time.

BTW the supply chain of a tractor is far different to that of a pork chop!

BTW the supply chain of a tractor is far different to that of a pork chop!

Yes. much more complex. Engines made in Peterborough, radiators made in Turkey, electronics made in China, tyres made in South Korea, China and Hungary, all assembled in Illinois and shipped here.

As for margins. Tesco have an operating profit margin of 6%. Would farmers settle such a low figure? Don't think so.

Although New Holland is Fiat-owned, New Holland’s Basildon plant, which produces the 112 to 228 hp award-winning T6 and T7 tractor ranges, has been honoured no fewer than three times at one of Britain’s most prestigious manufacturing awards. Not only did it take the World Class Manufacturing Award and the Manufacturing in Action Award, but it was also runner up for the most prestigious prize of the evening: the British Manufacturer of the Year Award.

Arn't JCB planning on moving production abroad?

Carlsberg don't do Soldiers, but if they did, they would probably be Brits.

No. They already have plants in 22 countries. They have made a huge investment in India to serve that market. My point really is that there misconceptions about the size and quality of the manufacturing segment in the UK.

What will probably happen is that the current small sacle produces of good quaility meat will be approached to supply the supermarkets. These producers will currently be suppling the local butchers/sell direct via farmer markets farm shops etc.

The supermarkets will approach small suppliers and be very accommodating and possibly help out with logistics etc

The supermarkets will pay over the odds for the meat - but pass this onto their customers

The farmers will say yippieee

The local bucthers/farmers markets will struggle to survive due to a reduction on availablity of their products

Once the local outlets have ceased trading, the supermarkets will realise they are now the only outlet for the meat, and start to squeaze prices

The farmer will start to moan, but where can they sell the meat now when the only outlet is a big supermarket

It happened before with other food products, but since BSE Mad Cow etc a profitable niche opened up with people wanting to by via a small supply chain, the suppermarkets will soon see this off.

BTW the supply chain of a tractor is far different to that of a pork chop!

Yes. much more complex. Engines made in Peterborough, radiators made in Turkey, electronics made in China, tyres made in South Korea, China and Hungary, all assembled in Illinois and shipped here.

As for margins. Tesco have an operating profit margin of 6%. Would farmers settle such a low figure? Don't think so.

Now, turning to E.Coli , farmers and local butchers.....

I'm sure the dairy farmers who have to sell their milk at a price to Tesco at a price lower than their cost of production would be quite happy to have a 6% margin.I know of at least 4 local butchers who are far cheaper than the local supermarkets, and their meat is of a better quality. Now either the butchers are quite happy with lower margins, given that they will be sourcing their products from higher cost sources or a supermarket is making a much better margin.And yes, I'd agree that farmers are quite happy to take margins when they can, but those occasions are becoming harder to come by. UK farming is the most regulated and quality-driven in the world and so it should be. That does not come cheap.

"sell their milk at a price to Tesco at a price lower than their cost of production"are they mad? why do they do it then? Maybe they should try Waitrose or the Co-op.

"at least 4 local butchers who are far cheaper than the local supermarkets"Consecutive posts from mumsnet. see http://www.mumsnet.c...et/AllOnOnePageOne local butchers is - but it's all cheap (and imported!) meat - nothing more than a glorified meat supermarker really (and I think it's closing soon as I saw the building up for sale recently.......) The other one is much more expensive, even getting just what I need it's out of my price braccket,

storminabuttercupThu 10-Mar-11 10:16:03Mine is hit and miss. Have you tried the butchers counters in the supermarket? Tesco often have some good deals on in that bit and it seems better quality.

nagynolonger Thu 10-Mar-11 10:19:06I would say it costs more from a local butcher. But mine does do good freezer pack at a reasonable price. Also you can buy exactly what you want as others have said. Things like sausage and bacon are much better than supermarket ones.

Overall, if farmers can't make a living, they should do something else instead. As I said in post #1 " I am as fully committed to buying British beef as they are to buying British tractors, trucks, combines, 4x4s and cars".

I know of at least 4 local butchers who are far cheaper than the local supermarkets, and their meat is of a better quality. Now either the butchers are quite happy with lower margins, given that they will be sourcing their products from higher cost sources or a supermarket is making a much better margin.

I don't know of one local butcher who is cheaper than a supermarket never mind "far" cheaper.

I don't know of one local butcher who is cheaper than a supermarket never mind "far" cheaper.

That would depend on what supermarket price point you compare against; against 'value' products they will be nowhere near, but against their 'finest' or counter range they will come close if not better than the supermarket.

"it is a well known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it."

Standard chicken breast fillets in supermarket (one of the big 4 ) nearest to work £10.95 per kilo. I was shocked at the price. Not finest, nor free range nor value range.

4 butchers selling local chicken (as they have the suppliers of their meat on a board in the shop) - range between £7.99 per kilo (I call that far cheaper) and £9.99 per kilo. However mumsnet must be right.

None of the butchers around here stock any imported meat. The countryside is full of it so why should they.

Local greengrocer sells a brand of local eggs for £1.19 per dozen. Supermarket, stocks the exact same brand that can be as high as £1.85!